| Home recording and general music post from the archived Yabb Recording Website Message Board. Some of the info here may be outdated but many of the audio recording and home studio tips are still good. Note: The only tags I made and attempt to convert are italics, bold, center and underline. So if you see some gibberish surrounded by brackets, just ignore it.
Recording Website Archived Yabb board Post
Febuary 2001 Yabb Message Board Archive
Subject: Do We Really Need To Know?
by chadg | 06/05/01 at 05:19:38
Do We Really Need To Know?
(c) 2001 Chad Gray Smith
v1
We've multiplied the reasons
We've vowed to fight for change
Been divided by the number
Of times we've tried in vain
Like a decimal repeating
We go on but can't explain
Why we are the way we are
and how our love still remains
(but) Do we really need to know -
why we can't let go?
Do we really need to know?
or leave well enough alone...
and let love grow
v2
We can clearly see the mem'ry
Of ev'ry tear we've shed
While we bury in our hearts
Things we wish we'd said
Like a river never ending
We flow strong but can't be sure
Just where it is we're going
and what we will endure
chorus (change last word to 'flow')
bridge
Maybe we're just scared...
I know we're getting older
Maybe it just seems...
the nights are getting colder
instr. break
There's so much I long to ask you
Hear you answer in the night
When you reach out and whisper
"Is everything all right?"
Do we really need to know
Why we can't let go?
Do we really need to know?
Or leave well enough alone...
and let love grow
Subject: Re: Do We Really Need To Know?
by Liana | 06/05/01 at 05:40:31
Hi chad, tried to reply on mine but link went coo coo, anyway,
I dont know why you have kleenex out but, maybe it was after ready yours hahahaha...no seriously, I didn't feel much emotion in this one, I was a little confused why you are asking why love should be...something lurking in the dark..you're bored to death with each other? You're too tired to think about a kiss and I love you anymore? I think that the flow is superb but its breathing is laboured, it needs ressucitation. Turn over and say...look Im too tired to listen to your moaning ,but tomorrow I'll be plenty awake to show you why we love each other...well at least 1 reason hahahaha ...hope you get my drift...I await your response :)
Subject: Re: Do We Really Need To Know?
by pafaustine | 06/05/01 at 07:34:50
Hi Chad,
Boy the first verse really hit home. One of my personal faults is a tendency to over-analyze everything to the point of interfering with the natural progression. I like the personal turn in the third (half-) verse, and the bridge and chorus work for me as well. In the second half of the second verse though, the river image didn't click for me. Maybe it's just the way the rest of the song hits me, but it seemed to work against the overall message.
This is a good one, Chad! That first verse really sets it up.
Subject: Re: Do We Really Need To Know?
by Curtis | 06/17/01 at 15:02:52
Hey Chad! :)
Long time no see around these parts. Nice to see you writing again.
I like this one a lot. It has a slightly different voicing than your usual stuff. Seems to be a bit more literal, not quite as cryptic as some things you write. Not to say that that is better or worse, only that the meaning was clear on the first read.
I think the river thing works okay in the second verse seeing as how you had to to place a metaphor there to match the form in the first verse. The decimel metaphor though was absolutely fantastic, so in comparison, the river thing seems a bit plain. I had a thought (uuh, oh) as I re-read that part a second time, and perhaps the use of the word "story" might work there instead of river, so it would read, "Like a never ending story". Probably equally as blah as river, and probably more cliche, but it might work for you.
Anyway, mostly just wanted to say hi.
Good to see your still around, :D
Curtis
Subject: Re: Do We Really Need To Know?
by Curtis | 06/17/01 at 15:10:22
Hmmm.
I do see the problem with the river metaphor.
We can clearly see the mem'ry
Of ev'ry tear we've shed
While we bury in our hearts
Things we wish we'd said
Like a river never ending
We flow strong but can't be sure
Just where it is we're going
and what we will endure
The use of the decimal metaphor in the first verse is tied strongly to the numbers reference preceding it. As if the metaphor is supported by the numbers reference.
In the second verse, tears are mentioned, then words, then the river. But the way the river is introduced makes it completely seperate from the tears etc..., comparing the couple to the river without any supporting imagery.
Does that make sense? Hope so.
'Course I may be wrong too. ;)
Curtis
Subject: Re: Do We Really Need To Know?
by Hobes | 06/22/01 at 17:02:55
Hi Chad,
Curtis picked up on something there in the second verse - tears leading to the river.... But I think I know why it trips up.
"While we bury in our hearts
Things we wish we'd said"
"bury" - even though there are burials at sea, the word conjures up images of dirt and graves. Thus the motion from tears to river is interrupted. You need something related to water here - like "drown".
And I'm not sold on the "And let love grow/flow" line. It feels like it's tacked on. I'd end the chorus with "leave well enough alone" and change the title accordingly - Well Enough Alone. I think that might "grab" better than "Do We Really Need to Know"....
Other than that, this one hit home pretty hard for me too. You've got the finger firmly on the pulse of this situation.
good job again (as if I ever need to say that...)
hobes